Vision
By James Castwell

There seems to be a common problem linking most fly-fishers; not to mention
the vagaries of psychological problems inherent to all who would choose to
practice the avocation. The problem seems to be one of vision. Most can not
see . . . why they should spend time working when they could spend it fly-fishing!
They can not see . . . why they should waste money on food, shelter and other
nuisance items when they could easily spend money on fly-fishing stuff! They
can not see . . . why they should spend time eating when they could be fly-fishing!

Fortunately, this malady does not assail all fly-fishers to the same degree.
However alas, it is no respecter of age nor of length of time spent at the
pursuit. It can start out full-blown, or insidiously creep up and devour an
otherwise unsuspecting individual without the hapless victim ever being
conscious of it's progress.

Some evidence of this problem can be observed occasionally in snippets of
conversation, such as: "can ya pick me up in the morning, I'm low on gas,"
"I don't care what the rod costs, I need a five weight!" "Naw, nothing I
really need, but let's stop at the fly-shop on the way," "Gave the old one
to the wife, got me this here new one," and the seldom found "Ya, she
and I both fly-fish, (gives me more gear to choose from)."

This then is a salute to those so afflicted. To those in the terrible and
unrelenting grip of "Fly-Fishing-stuffitis." There is no known cure as no
one has ever tried to find one. Those with it have not the time nor the
money nor the inclination to investigate such a thing. Besides if a 'cure'
was found I am sure it would be bought up by some mega-glomerate
manufacturer to keep it off the market as such a 'cure' could possibly
devastate the financial solvency of the industry.

The idea of this phenomenon just kinda 'come-upside-my-head' so to
speak. And it scares me some. I may have it. Some of my best friends
may have it. Yes, even you may have it. If a person can remember the
names of the rods he owns, but not his kid's names, he may have it. He
remembers 'opening-day' but not his wife's birthday, he may have it.
Has spent more on flies in a year than 'the cost to re-carpet the living
room, he may have it. You see the general pattern here.

This is to the ones who have given up on the mundane way of life. To
those who have decided to take a 'higher-calling' and blow all they can
on fly-fishing goodies. To take the 'high-road' and go boldly where so
many before us have gone. Get the gear, use the newest stuff, collect the
reels, take over the 'spare room' for a fly-tying den, start a library of
fly-fishing books, buy-sell-trade rods at the drop of a hat, 'grab for
the brass ring!'

Remember, for some of us, it's not only, "he who dies with the most toys
who wins;" - it's how well we play the game, with what, and how often.
I think I can see a new meaning to the phrase, 'go for broke!'
~ James Castwell